Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own any of it. Joss

Author's Note- All Lyrics are from The Who's "Heaven and Hell"

Rating - R

Summary - Spike and Dru meet an old friend at Woodstock who makes them an offer they can't refuse.

Chapter Six - Double Cross Times Three
 

Why can't we have eternal life, And never die,
Never die?

Spike took a good long look at his women, wishing that he had thought to ask Nolan for a spell to shield the way they looked. Darla was as bright as a peacock in her halter-top pantsuit with palazzo pants. The paisley patterns were in brilliant jewel tones of ruby, sapphire, emerald and topaz. Dru's A-line dress was more understated, black silk with an Egyptian collar that covered her healing neck and spread in a wide arc to her breasts before spilling in a line down her middle to the hem. It was a waterfall of metallic silver cloth covered with crystal beads and flanked by pearls. She was utterly beautiful. And both women were completely eye- catching. That was a bad thing. It wasn't so much the clothes as their faces, which by now Sunflower knew well.

Why couldn't Grady and Sunflower have chosen muted venues that didn't require formal dress? New York City had hundreds of bars so why did they always have to go to first class? Spike was no less a peacock in the suit Dru had stolen for him from a Carnaby Street store when they had been in London six months before. The jacket was pink and red vertical stripes and the pants were the color of blood. He belonged hanging out with the Beatles in this get up. Reluctantly he led them inside the club. Arthur's was packed and thankfully dark. Hot jazz music flooded over them. Any other night, Spike would have loved it.

"Let's do this."

* * *

Sunflower looked around and saw no familiar faces other than Nolan's. She was glad of it. The last thing she needed was those damn vampires to show up. She had holy water and a stake this time but she wasn't sure she could use the stake. She had the holy water in a water pistol tucked away in her purse. That was a prepared as she could be for vampires.

She spotted Mr. Giles across the bar. It had to be him, Sunflower decided. He was dressed like a British banker. All he needed was a bowler. He was totally out of place in the trendy club with its glitterati. She cross the crowded room and looked down at the man seated at the table.

"Mr. Giles?" she asked.

His head jerked up, causing his glasses to slide down his nose. He pushed them up. "Miss Kerry?"

Sunflower nodded and sat down, sweeping her long blond hair out of the way. It was messier than she would have liked but she didn't have time to lay her head on an ironing board and let her friend iron it straight. She should have put it up. She had been so shaken by the vampires that it was all she could do to dress up, put the book in a plastic bag, in case the holy water pistol leaked, and get to the club.

"Yeah, look I don't want to waste any time. Three vampires are after me." She paused but Giles' face remained expressionless as if he heard about vampires every day. When she thought about it he probably did. "I think they want the book or at least I hope that's what they want. So if you want it and you have the asking price, let's get this done with."

Giles took out an envelope. "Cashier's check in the amount named by Mr. Grimshaw. Where is he?" He slid the envelope back into his breast pocket, glancing around the club as the saxophonist launched into "Blues in the Night."

"Dead," she said flatly.

"Too bad. May I see the book to authenticate it?" Giles asked, unconcerned with anything but his mission.

Sunflower handed it to him. Giles eased it out of the wrapper. He carefully paged through it, a hungry look in his grey eyes. He got lost in the book for several long minutes.

"Yes, yes, this is it," Giles muttered. He glanced up over her shoulder and frowned slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, your vampires are here."

* * *

Spike picked out Sunflower fairly easily, only moment's before Dru saw her saw as well. His dark goddess cooed in delight, seeing Sunflower's simple A- line black dress with a vinyl collar and six-inch hem, black vinyl with silver stars. He'd have to find a dress like that for Dru.

A man sat with her, peering near-sightedly at a book. That had to be the Watcher. He simply reeked of it. Nolan was in corner but if he had seen the vampires he showed no signs. Spike didn't like him being there. If Nolan was hot enough for Sunflower, he'd betray them. Spike waved Darla off to one side and he took the other closest to Nolan. He left Dru go up the middle. They threaded through the club fairly easily since most people were at their tables, drinking and smoking, listening to "Stomp at the Savoy."

Sunflower's back was to them, which Spike counted as a good thing. The Watcher suddenly looked up and Spike knew from the look on his face they were busted. He said something to Sunflower who jumped out of her chair firing a bright orange pistol at Spike. He almost laughed then realized what it had to be. He barely got his arm in front of his eyes. Still some holy water splashed on his face, sizzling. Spike howled. There was a flurry of movement he couldn't make out but he was sure it was Sunflower running.

"Too bad there's been a change of plans," Nolan said. "Sunflower and I are going to split the profits of the book sale fifty fifty. That means you have to go."

Nolan raised his hands, starting to chant. Spike's eyes were streaming too much for him to see where to attack. He felt something flash past him, smelled Dru's perfume and heard her growl. She slammed Nolan into the wall, her fangs ripping out his throat. Screams erupted as the jazz listeners panicked. Darla snared the Watcher, slamming him back down into his seat. She stabbed at him with the crystal shard and it didn't glow.

"Damn it. Where is that book?" she snarled.

"Better tell her, mate or she'll kill you," Spike said, wiping his eyes.

The man's jaw set. "If I do tell you, you'll kill me anyhow."

"Probably," Spike said, "But if you don't have it, Sunflower does. Darla, get after her. Dru and I will work this one." Spike didn't like sending Darla after the book. He knew she'd screw him over if she got it first. He was hoping Darla and Sunflower would fight just long enough for him to get the book from the woman but he couldn't look like he was following Darla. She didn't trust him.

Darla nodded and took off in the direction Sunflower had went, the crystal in front of her. It began glowing red as she neared the emergency exit. Dru sauntered over to the Watcher's table, wiping blood off her mouth. She sat on the table, facing the Watcher. She rested her feet in his lap. Her thigh high black vinyl boots had very intimidating heels if Spike was reading the man's facial expressions right. Dru leaned over and ran her fingers along his face.

"This one has magic, all bright and beautiful. He could hurt us," she said, looking over at Spike.

"Guess we should kill him now then."

"I don't have your book. You let me go, and I won't bother with you," Giles said, more calm and collected than Spike liked. Mages were tricky to deal with.

Spike snorted. "And I should believe that why?"

"This one has a little star at home. We should pay him a visit," Dru said, a gleeful smile touching her wide lips.

"N-no," Giles stammered, trying to move away from her. "Get out of my head."

"What do you call him?" Dru asked, stealing his glasses.

"Rupert," Giles said, looking pained as he tried to fight against her formable will.

"What a precious name. Think about it, Spike. We must take him to tea. Miss Edith would love him. All my dollies can't fill the hole in me. I need a child. We could have his. I can dress him, and cuddle him and he'll be ours," Dru said and Spike rolled his eyes, counting the moments it would take for Dru to accidentally kill a child.

"No! Leave my son out of this," Giles growled. "Miss Kerry took your book. She's getting away while you waste time with me."

"How much were you going to pay her?" Spike asked.

Giles blinked rapidly, not expecting that question. "Nearly a hundred thousand pounds."

"Tomorrow, meet us upstate at the gates of Sleepy Hollow cemetery and we'll give you the book for that money," Spike said, easing Dru off the table.

Giles shook his head. "I don't deal with vampires."

"Fine. I'll let Dru go collect your brat for a plaything. She'll find out where he is, you know that, don't you." Spike leered at the Watcher.

Giles paled. "I'm not fool enough to meet you in the cemetery."

"Fine. Where then?"

"The New York Public Library, just after night fall," Giles said, his sharp eyes gauging them.

Spike nodded. "You just bought yourself a life. Oh, and make sure you bring cash money. Come on, Dru. We'd better catch up to Darla."

Spike and Dru raced outside just in time to see Darla fly through the air and slam into the side of the building. She tumbled down it to lay motionless in the alleyway. Spike frowned. Just what he feared. Sunflower had some powerful spells at her disposal. Darla was unconscious, the crystal lying by her hand. Spike crushed it underfoot. No sense in letting Darla be able to track that book once he had it in his hands. Dru slithered past him after Sunflower. Sunflower's magic lifted Dru but before she could toss her, Spike tackled her. Dru fell from several feet, stunned. He pinned both of Sunflower's arms. Feeling her squirm under him was arousing.

"Take it," she said. "Take the damn book and leave me alone!"

"No dice. You hurt Drusilla." Spike licked her cheek, listening to her squeaks of fear and disgust. "I promised her your heart."

Spike slammed his fist down. Sunflower's breath exploded out of her like a scream turned sideways. With his brute strength he tore through her chest wall. Her heart slipped and slithered in his grasp but he got it and yanked it free in an impressive geyser of blood. So much for his hideous suit. Blood dripping from his hair, he took the heart to Drusilla, helping her to sit up.

"For you, love."

Dru took the heart like some precious flower. She smiled at him. "My Spike. He knows what I like."

As Dru drank from the warm muscular organ, Spike went back to Sunflower. Her large purse lay beside her. In it, were the book and a plastic bag. He put the book in the bag then rummaged through a dumpster. He came up with another bag. He put the book in it then went back to Sunflower's body and tore open her ribcage a little more. He shoved the book inside her, down through her diaphragm and behind her intestines. He rearranged her so the damage looked minimized then went over to Darla. He slapped her lightly to revive her.

Darla sat up, rubbing her bloodied head. "What happened?"

"She tossed you one good. Damn, look. The crystal must have been broken in your fall," Spike said, gesturing at the shards his boot had turned the crystal into.

Swearing, Darla staggered upright and hobbled over to Sunflower's body. "Gave Dru her heart like you promised?" she asked, picking up the purse.

Dru made the heart dance so Darla could see. Darla ignored her, frantically rummaging through the purse.

"Spike, it's not here!"

"What do you mean it's not there? The book has to be there," he argued.

"It's not here. She must have had time to toss it. Damn it, the crystal is broken. How will I find it?"

"Well, she was only in this alleyway. It has to be here," Spike said. "Check that dumpster. Dru and I will head back toward the building and see if we can find it."

Spike helped Dru up. They made their way back towards Arthur's making enough noise to make it sound like they were searching. They were mostly trying not to laugh at Darla in the dumpster.

"Nothing here, Darla," Spike called finally.

The blonde vampiress hiked herself out of the dumpster, covered in filth. "Damn it. That Watcher must have tricked us."

Spike nodded. "He must be long gone by now."

"I'm not giving up that easily. He might still be inside thinking that would be the last place we'd look or someone saw where he went," Darla said, stalking inside, picking garbage off herself.

"Go with her, pet. I'll see if I can spot him out here but hurry. Cops have to be coming," Spike said.

Once the ladies were out of sight, he dragged the bagged book back out of Sunflower's corpse. He tossed the bloodied bags in the dumpster and carried the book to his VW bus. He tore up a section of the shag carpet and hide the book beneath it then covered it with the carpet and their sleeping bags. That was the best he could do until he ditched Darla.

When he finally caught back up to them, Darla was furious.

"Nothing. No sign of him," she spat.

"Then that's the end of it. Watchers aren't stupid. He's probably on his way to La Guardia and will be on the next plane back to London," Spike said.

Darla slammed a fist into her thigh. "I know, damn it. We were so close."

"Next time, Grandmummy but all is not lost. Nolan had things worth selling," Dru said.

Spike patted her arm. He hadn't even thought of that. Certainly some of Nolan's spell books would be worth something to the magical black market. "Good thinking, Dru. We can help you sort through his stuff, Darla, then it's time to part company."

"You don't here me arguing," Darla said, heading back for the bus in disgust.

* * *

"Isn't it pretty?" Dru said, looking at the Statue of Liberty.

"If you say so, pet," Spike said, hugging her.

"I do."

Spike kissed her cheek. The night was good. They had left Darla. The Watcher had kept his word and paid them for the book. He didn't try to double cross them and they let him go. Spike really didn't want to be under the Watchers Council's heel if he could avoid it. It would just complicate his life. Significantly more wealthy, and the bonus of beating Darla at her own game, Spike was feeling great. Dru was equally happy since they had stopped and had the book photocopied so she could study the spells herself.

"Come on, Dru. This is going to be fun."

He led her up the gangplank to the dinner cruise ship. They'd watch the water under the stars. They'd dance and on the way home, they'd feast. Who could ask for more?